Tonight at the Flames Invitational former Mt. Vernon and Lee University standout, Christian Noble, will look to make history as he will attempt to break the Tennessee soil record in the mile. The record currently sits with Eric Avila from 2018 where he ran 3:55.43. Noble, a recent alumni from Lee, is multiple time NCAA Division II champion and is one of the best talents to come from Indiana regardless of division.
See Eric Avila running to the current TN soil record with photo finish win at the 2018 Ed Murphey Classic below
In his prep years he would compete for Mt. Vernon where he would be one of the few athletes to break the 15 minute barrier on the grass. On the track Noble would earn the state runner-up title his senior year in the 3200m with a 9:04, finishing behind Ben Veatch.
In college he ran his best time of 3:36.00 in the metric mile (1500m) to win the 2022 Oregon Relays and break the DII outdoor 1500m record in the process. His best time in the mile would come earlier from that season during indoor where he would run a 3:56.10 at the Boston University Last Chance Meet. According to World Athletics Noble currently holds personal records of 3:53.50 in the mile and 3:35.84 in the 1500m his young professional career with Team New Balance Boston.
Photo from Lee Athletics / Tom Chatfield. Christian Noble taking the win at the 2022 Oregon Relays
The gun is set to go off for the men's elite mile at the Flames Invitational at 6:55pm.